Larry B. Lovick pleaded guilty Friday to felonious restraint, which is a felony punishable by to up to 59 months in jail. He was indicted earlier this month.
According to documents obtained by ABC11, the incident took place during a traffic stop on or about May 25, 2010.
Click here to read more details about the incident
The woman’s family claims Lovick made her get into his car, handcuffed her and exposed himself to her on Trailwood Drive in west Raleigh.
"He stopped and asked her to pull up her shirt, she obeyed and exposed her chest to him," District Attorney Colon Willoughby said. "He asked her if she wanted to see his and without response he pulled down his pants and exposed himself to her and fondled himself."
ABC11 confirmed that Lovick was working the night shift that night in an unmarked car. Lovick was suspended without pay for unknown reasons for three days just months before the May incident was reported.
Despite the incident, the victim did not want the former trooper to serve jail time.
"The family and the victim from the very beginning have said they are not seeking an active sentence that they thought this was a problem that they wanted him to be out of law enforcement, but they were not vindictive in wanting him to go to prison," Willoughby said.
Lovick was sentenced to 36 months probation, with the first six months as "intense" probation. He's also been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and turn in his law enforcement certificate.
Wake County Judge Don Stevens agreed to the terms set by the prosecution. But he called Lovick's actions despicable and said while the victim might no longer be angry, it's fellow officers who are or should be.
"You have stained them all," he said. "It takes is somebody like you to make these fine officers be looked upon by the community in a different light."
As for Lovick, he declined to speak in court, but his attorney spoke on his behalf.
"He's human," defense attorney James Crouch said. "Everybody makes mistakes and he made a mistake and he's come here to today to accept responsibility for that mistake."
According to the district attorney, the state Highway Patrol had one other complaint concerning Lovick before the May incident.
Click here to read more about the complaint
The patrol investigated it and took administrative action on. It did not result in a formal charge. The prosecution tried contacting the other person involved, but they were unsuccessful.
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